Process and apparatus for the construction of slabs of artificial stone, &amp;c.



' No. 838,406. PATENTBD DEC. 11, 1906. d A. HERMANN. A A

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLABS 0F ARTIFICIAL STONE, 6w, APPLICATION FILED DBO. 18,1906.

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No. 838,406 PATENTED DEG. 11, 1906.

V A. HERMANN. PROOESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE co-nsmucnon 0P VSLABS 0P ARTIFICIAL STONE, aw,

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 18.1905.

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No. 838,406. PATENTED DEG. 11,1906.

v I A'. HBRMANN. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OFJSLABS 0F ARTIFICIAL STONE, aw,

APPLIOATIOH FILED D110. 18, 1906.

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UNTTED STATES ADALBERT HERMANN, OF VIENNA,

PATENT GEFICE.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR OF HUNGARY.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLABS OF ARTIFICIAL STONE, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed December 18, 1905. Serial N01 292,150.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADALBERT HERMANN, merchant, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at IX Lichtensteinstrasse 107, Vienna, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Ap aratus for the Construction of Slabs of Artificial Stone and the Like and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention consists of a process and an apparatus for the production'of artificial-stone slabs from a mixture of hydraulic cementing and filamentous materials.

The process consists in plunging a suitable horizontal sup orting-body (preferably of woven materia) into the fluid mass of cement and filamentous substance, effecting a lateral movement as between said body and the fluid mass, so as to lay the fibers or filaments of said mass horizontally but in otherwise heterogeneous arrangement, and then withdrawing said body vertically upwardly from the mass.

I find that by having the fluid mass relatively deep and lunging the sup ortingbody approximate y as far as possi le the best results are attained. The filaments hereby retain their position in various directions and cross one another at many points, while remaining parallel to the surface of the slab, so that the slabs possess, when dried, equal consistency and strength in every direction. This is the chief advantage of the present process, which has not been attained by any hitherto-known process, because the slabs hitherto prepared according to other processessuch, for instance, as those by aid of a papermachinepossess, in consequence of the arrangement of the fibers in the longitudinal direction, greater strength longitudinally than transversely.

The interwoven surfaces are constructed interchangeable and of such size that by the corresponding preparation of the mixture with relation to the surface ca acity of the woven mat'erial slabs of t he required strength can be obtained, while, for instance, in the production of slabs upon a paper-machine only slabs of one strength and size can be produced corresponding to the constructional proportions of the machine.

The machine applicable for the carrying out of the process is illustrated in the drawings diagrammatically, by way of example, in one constructional form.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device on the line A B of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan view in which the press-rollers upon the woven surface are not illustrated, and Fig. 3 shows a transverse section.

The mixture of hydraulic cementing materials and suitable filamentous materials, which is made in a mixing-machine or a pulping-machine of suitable construction, passes into a cistern a of the machine, in which the woven surfaces b can be plunged as deep as possible and upon which the mass deposits. 11 order that a uniform distribution of the material can be attained upon the woven surface, this latter is caused to oscillate by means of a shaking device. This device may preferably consist of the system of levers c f g h, upon the latter, h, of which there is a projection d, which acts against the frame 1' of the woven surface, while the first lever e is subject to the operation of a cam or eccentric j or the like, by means of which the lever system is caused to oscillate and communicates its motion to the frame. Every two frames i are attached to the same ropes, cables, and the like is, which are carried over rollers m, laced upon a common shaft Z. The shaft Tcan be operated in o posite directions by means of the belt-pul eys n 0 p, so that one frame is being constantly raised while another frame is bemg simultaneously lowered, &c. There are further provided ropes, cables, and the like g, attached to the frames, which are passed over guide-rollers r in order to keep the frames 1; constantly in the horizontal position while being raised and lowered.

The woven surfaces 1) are constructed as endless bands passing over rollers s, which bands are capable of being moved in a longitudinal direction For this purposeof the rolls 8, for instance-the first one can be driven and bears upon its axle a drivingwheel t, which engages in the uppermost position of the frame in a gear-wheel a of the mechanism '0, whereby the driving of the poll 8 is effected together with the woven surace.

WVhen the woven surfaces are in their uppermost position, suitably arranged pressure-rollers w come in contact with them, which rollers act against the supportingrolls 8, placed on the under side of the surfaces, and thus exert a pressure upon the material collected on the woven surfaces during the motion thereof. From the surfaces the mass is taken off by means of a felt roller y or the like, which is supported in an adjustable support z, so that it can be pushed from one surface to another in order without interruption to remove the mass from the one or the other wovensurface. The layer of material thus brought upon the roller, which is already tough and tolerably firm, is then formed into the required shape by further treatment, as by pressing, molding, and the like.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. The process of forming artificial-stone slabs and similar articles which consists in plunging a body having an approximately horizontal top surface into a fluid mass of the substance from which to form such slabs, ef-

fecting a lateral movement relatively between said body and the mass, and then raising the body out of the mass, whereby to charge said body with a layer of the mass, the same being partially deprived of moisture and having the fibers thereof substantially horizontally but otherwise heterogeneously disposed, substantially as described.

2. The process of forming artificialstone slabs and similar articles which consists in plunging a body having an approximately horizontal top surface into a fluid mass of the substance from which to form such slabs, effecting a lateral movement relatively between said body and the mass. then raising said body out of said mass and thereby charging .the same with a layer of the mass, and then removing said layer from the mass and applying pressure thereto, substantially as described.

3. The process of forming artificialstone slabs and similar articles which consists in plunging approximately as far as possible a body having an approximately horizontal top surface into a relatively deep fluid mass of the substance from which to form such slabs, effecting a lateral movement relatively between said body and the mass and then raising the body out of the mass, whereby to charge said body with a layer of the mass, the same being partially deprived of moisture and having the fibers thereof substantially horizontal but otherwise heterogeneously disposed, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a supporting-body having a substantially horizontal top surface, means for sustaining said body and raising and lowering the same out of and into said receptacle, and means for effecting a relative movement horizontally as between said body and the liquid mass contained in said receptacle when said body is lowered into the receptacle, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a supporting-body having a substantially horizontal top surface, means for sustaining said body and raising and lowering the same out of and into said receptacle, means for effecting a relatively horizontal movement as between said body and the liq uid mass contained in said receptacle when said body is lowered into the receptacle, and means for effecting the removal of the layer formed on said body when the same is removed from said receptacle, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a suitable receptacle, an endless flexible supporting-body, rolls carrying said supporting-body, a frame carrying said rolls, means for raising and lowering said frame out of and into said receptacle, means for oscillating said frame when in the receptacle, and means for advancing said body on its rolls and for removing the layer formed thereon upon its removal from said receptacle, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a suitable receptacle, an endless flexible supporting-body, rolls carrying said supporting-body, a frame carrying said rolls, means for raising and lowering said frame out of and into said receptacle, means for oscillating said frame when in the receptacle, and means for effecting a pressure on the layer formed on said body when. the same has been elevated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADALBERT HERMANN.

Witnesses:

HARRY BELMONT, ALvEsTo S. HOGUE. 

